It was welcome news for the Springfield Police Officers Association, a labor group separate from the police department that has called for more officers. But it didn't alter the association's plans already in place to have members picket at a council lunch meeting on Tuesday — and at all meetings in the foreseeable future.

"We're not attractive," Association President Mike Evans said of the department. "We're not catching the eye of candidates across the country like we used to."

The News-Leader reviewed city records and reached out to other agencies in an effort to provide more background on current police compensation levels. The review indicated minimum salaries for those in the association are in the lower third when compared to cities around the country that Springfield considers to be "benchmark cities."

The city uses data from the benchmark cities to help determine whether its salaries are appropriately set. The city generally aims to be in the middle third in terms of compensation.

In multiple instances, a starting Springfield officer could get a raise of about a third — in excess of $10,000 — simply by taking the starting salary at a benchmark city.

But Springfield police do earn more than many other law enforcement officers in the area. Deputies with the sheriff's offices in Greene and several neighboring counties all start out earning less.

In several cases, it takes a supplemental state grant just to get deputy starting salaries within $6,000 of Springfield police.

Springfield vs. benchmark cities

Nine benchmark cities responded to the city's 2014 salary survey. At the time of the survey, the minimum pay for a Springfield police officer was $33,821. That was third-lowest when compared to the benchmark cities that responded — Abilene, Texas; Amarillo, Texas; Huntsville, Alabama; Wichita Falls, Texas; Savannah, Georgia; Columbia, South Carolina; Fort Wayne, Indiana; Salt Lake City, Utah and Knoxville, Tennessee.

Maximum pay for a Springfield police officer was $54,434 — fifth-highest among the 10 cities.

The survey was completed prior to a 1 percent raise for city employees earlier this year; minimum pay this fiscal year for a police officer is $34,174 — $16.43 an hour. Maximum pay is $55,995.

For police sergeants, the survey found that the minimum salary of $43,493 at the time was lowest among the 10 cities, and that maximum salary of $69,472 was fifth-highest. For lieutenants, the survey found minimum pay of $47,923 was second-lowest, and maximum pay of $75,941 was fourth-highest. Those salaries have also increased 1 percent since the survey was conducted, and the salaries in other cities may have changed in that time.

The police association represents those lower in rank than lieutenant.

Data in the salary survey was reported by the municipalities surveyed. Six additional benchmark cities — Chattanooga, Tennessee; Columbus, Georgia; Evansville, Indiana; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Kalamazoo, Michigan and Waco, Texas — didn't respond to Springfield's request for salary data and were not included in the report.

Evans said the lack of data from the cities that didn't respond compromises the survey.

"It throws their premise off," he said of the city officials.

Sheila Maerz, the city's director of human resources, said Friday that the number of benchmark cities that respond to the survey varies by year, "just as the City of Springfield must prioritize their workload when considering responding to other cities' survey requests as well."

"That said, four of the cities that did not respond, have never responded to our salary survey," she said. "Therefore the 2014 salary survey data is only without the response of two cities that we received responses from in previous years."

Maerz emphasized that the salary survey pertained to a variety of city positions — not just those in the police department — and that there is a validation process to ensure the positions being compared are truly similar. She noted that the survey indicates other positions within the city are in the lower third.

Several of the benchmark cities that didn't respond to the city's 2014 survey list at least some information about police officer pay on their websites. In Evansville, 2014 starting salary is $44,354. Grand Rapids lists a salary range from $40,232 for the recruit step to $66,504 for senior office pay after 10 years. Total starting salary for a patrol officer in Columbus is currently $36,556. Kalamazoo — which combines police, fire and emergency medical services operations into its Department of Public Safety — lists a starting salary of $40,972. In Waco, police officers start at $46,503.

Different agencies break down salaries differently; often, there is one level of pay while individuals are in a police academy, another during a probation period and another once they get off probation. Agencies often list an additional clothing allowance, and a higher salary for those with college degrees.

Springfield vs. neighboring agencies

Compensation for Springfield police looks more favorable when compared to other law enforcement agencies in the area.

"The only people we're truly beating in pay are the local agencies," Evans said.

Deputies with the Webster County Sheriff's Office start at $21,840 annually, according to Deputy Clerk Tiffany Knight, and those with at least three years of experience max out at about $32,000. Deputies currently get additional compensation from the Missouri Department of Public Safety's Deputy Sheriff Salary Supplementation Fund grant, which county agencies can apply for annually. In Webster County, the grant means those with less than three years of experience earn at least $28,000 total. Those already at that salary level receive an additional $1,200 annually from the grant, Knight said.

Deputies with the Polk County Sheriff's Office benefit from the grant as well. The starting salary for deputies is $23,920, plus a $720 uniform allowance, Undersheriff John Eagan said. As in Webster County, the grant increases total annual compensation to at least $28,000, or $1,200 annually for those already at that salary.

"It's been a good thing for us," Eagan said of the grant. "It's helped us retain employees."

But there's no guarantee the office will get the grant in future years. Eagan said he is able to pay more than the base starting salary to deputies that already have law enforcement experience elsewhere, but he's still lost several employees in recent years to Greene County.

"We really don't get paid for what we have to endure sometimes ... People who get into law enforcement don't get into it for the money," Eagan said. "We're in it because we want to make a difference, not get rich."

Patrol deputies with the Greene County Sheriff's Office start at $31,117 annually, while sergeants receive $39,166, according to Public Relations Coordinator Cathy Ussery. Lieutenants receive and captains earn $42,286 and $53,290, respectively, while majors earn $62,150. Those figures include the recent raise for county employees — the first in six years.

Christian County Sheriff's Office deputies start at $28,800, according to Sheriff Joey Kyle. The supplementation grant brings that up to about $30,000. The county doesn't pay overtime; deputies accumulate comp time.

"Any pay increases I have to fight for," Kyle said.

The entire sheriff's office, which includes the jail, has about 85 positions. Since 2010, Kyle said, 240 people have cycled through those positions. Deputies often head to the Nixa or Ozark police departments, where the starting salary is comparable to that of a mid-level salary with the sheriff's office.

"It creates budget issues for us because I'm constantly having to train these people," Kyle said.

In Nixa, salary for police officers ranges from $31,553.60 to $44,314.00, according to Sharon Hankison, the city's director of human resources.

Should big city give big-city pay?

Evans said pay for Springfield police needs to be higher than these neighboring agencies because of the city's larger budget, higher standards and officer workload.

Springfield is the third-largest city in the state. In Kansas City, the largest, police officers who have completed academy and a six-month probationary period start at $42,425 annually, according to the department's website. Salaries for the Missouri State Highway Patrol are dictated by the Missouri General Assembly. Starting annual salary for a probationary trooper is $37,644, according to the patrol's website.

Even with the addition of 10-grant funded officers, Evans is still concerned with police staffing. He wants to see the department at its authorized strength — currently 331 officers, a number that will increase to 341 when council formally accepts the grant. Evans believes the authorized strength should be higher still, and that individuals in the police academy shouldn't count toward it.

To Evans, police pay is intricately linked with police staffing. The department doesn't attract enough high-quality candidates if compensation isn't good enough, he figures. Those who are attracted might leave for elsewhere after a short time.

Evans said: "It's about attracting candidates, and this is the real world."

"It comes down to dollars and sense."

How much do they want?

At one point, the Springfield Police Officers Association proposed a 7 percent raise over three years for its members, President Mike Evans told the News-Leader Thursday. The city wasn't interested. The association's latest proposal — the one going to arbitration — was less, he said.

"We're trying to be reasonable," Evans said. "Whatever the plan is, we have to have a multi-year plan."

The Missouri Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that public bodies are required to collectively bargain in good faith with their employee groups. The city and the association have been unable to agree on a contract since. Evans told the News-Leader Thursday that the parties are now trying to agree on specifics of the arbitration process, with the goal of having an arbitration hearing no later than Jan. 30.

The city's bargaining team includes the police chief, two attorneys and the director of human resources. Chief Paul Williams has told the News-Leader that he is "not at liberty to discuss anything related to contract negotiations."

"Negotiations are to be, have been, and will be conducted between the parties — not in the media," he said in mid-September.

Evans has previously said the city wants to tie pay increases to the rate of inflation for at least the next two years, which would effectively slash the scheduled pay raises by half or more. Police are currently working under an interim agreement which gave them a 1 percent pay raise.

LAW ENFORCEMENT PAY FIGURES

Webster County Sheriff's Office

• Deputies start at $21,840 - max out at $32,000*

Christian County Sheriff's Office

• Deputies start at $28,800*

Polk County Sheriff's Office

• Deputies start at $23,920*

Nixa Police Department

• Officer salary range from $31,553.60 to $44,314

Missouri State Highway Patrol

• Troopers start at $37,644

Kansas City Police Department

• Officers start at $42,425

*Salaries don't include additional compensation through Missouri Department of Public Safety's Deputy Sheriff Salary Supplementation Fund. Agencies can apply annually for a grant from the fund that allows them to increase deputy compensation; the funding is not guaranteed.